title: Walk-run transition speed training as an efficient exercise adjunct to dietary restriction in the management of obesity: a prospective intervention pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to test the utility of preferred walk-run transition speed (WRTS) in exercise training adjunct to dietary restriction for obesity management in healthy obese women.
  
  
  METHODS
  37 obese women (age: 35 ± 9 years, body mass index (BMI): 34.9 ± 4.6 kg/m(2)) were assigned to an intervention pilot study during 6 months of restricted diet alone (RD) followed by 6 months of RD combined with WRTS (RD and WRTS) as a training exercise. Body mass, waist circumference (WC), fat mass (FM), fat free mass (FFM), active cell mass (ACM), fasting glucose, serum lipids (triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apo-lipoproteins A1 (ApoA1) and B (ApoB)], leptin and insulin concentrations, and HOMA-IR were assessed at baseline (T0), at the end of the RD alone (T1), and at the end of the RD and WRTS programme (T2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean weight loss was 8.6 ± 4.9 kg and 2.2 ± 2.9 kg for (T0-T1) and (T1-T2), respectively. Significant BMI and WC reductions were reported at T1 and T2. FM decreased significantly both with RD and with RD and WRTS training whereas FFM and ACM increased with RD and WRTS training only. TG decreased significantly with the two phases of the programme. A significant increase in HDL-C, and a decrease in LDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio were noticed with RD and WRTS training. Heart rate monitored in training improved significantly after RD and WRTS training. A significant relationship (r = 0.542, p < 0.02) was demonstrated between reductions in serum leptin and insulin concentrations observed with both RD and WRTS training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of WRTS training to RD promoted a greater reduction in body mass, WC, FM, leptin and insulin concentrations, improved metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors, and enhanced cardiovascular fitness.
authors.affiliation: Tunesian Research Laboratory Sports Performance Optimisation, National Centre of Medicine and Science in Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Latifa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beltaifa
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaouachi
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zérifi
authors.forename: Lamia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boussaidi
authors.forename: Ikram
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bouzrati
authors.forename: Abdelmajid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abid
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elkhadi
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chamari
authors.forename: Aly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raies
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult